Human Rights First Says Zelenskyy’s U-turn on corruption bodies is a win for Ukraine’s civil society

Today’s vote by Ukraine’s parliament to restore the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO)—is a welcome reversal of last week’s alarming decision to place the agencies under the control of the Prosecutor General. The corrective legislation, introduced by President Zelenskyy, was in direct response to pressure from civil society and international partners, including the European Union.

“This vote is a win for the street protestors, for the anti-corruption activists and for Ukraine’s civil society,” said Brian Dooley, Senior Advisor at Human Rights First. “Public pressure forced this rapid U-turn. Restoring NABU and SAPO’s independence pulls Ukraine back from the brink — but the danger hasn’t passed. Anti-corruption activists in Ukraine are still being harassed, discredited, and targeted.”

Human Rights First has worked alongside Ukraine’s anti-corruption activists for over a decade and was among the organizations that condemned last week’s attempt to weaken these institutions.

Human Rights First urges President Zelenskyy to sign this bill into law without delay, and to halt the broader campaign of harassment and retaliation against Ukraine’s anti-corruption activists.